How to Balance Norepinephrine Naturally

by
JAMIE SIMPSON Oct. 03, 2017

Jamie Simpson

Jamie Simpson is a researcher and journalist based in Indianapolis with more than 10 years of professional writing experience. She earned her B.S. in animal science from Purdue University and her Master of Public Affairs in public management from Indiana University. Simpson also works as a massage therapist and equine sports massage therapist.

Neurons in the brain.
Photo Credit: Andrea Danti/Hemera/Getty Images

The levels of neurotransmitters your brain produces directly affects your moods, emotions and physical movements. When you are producing the right amounts of norepinephrine, you feel happier, can control your emotions and generally go about your daily life with much more ease. Although there are a variety of reasons that neurotransmitters can be thrown out of balance, there are ways to balance norepinephrine naturally through diet and supplementation before seeking help from prescription drugs.

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Step 1

Add a melatonin supplement to your routine. Taking 3 to 5 mg per day at 30 minutes before bedtime will help to increase your norepinephrine production. Melatonin is a compound your brain naturally produces to help you fall asleep, and supplementing will help you to do so much faster and wake refreshed.

Step 2

Add a nutritional supplement containing St. John’s Wort to your routine. It is important to balance St. John’s Wort with a vitamin B complex to experience enhanced results in your moods.

Step 3

Take care of your heart through a balanced diet and sufficient exercise. Norepinephrine is the key neurotransmitter and hormone affecting heart function. In fact, after a heart attack, levels of norepinephrine in the blood are markedly low.

Step 4

Find a balance in your consumption of foods containing artificial sweeteners to maintain optimal levels of norepinephrine, which is most affected by the amino acid L-phenylalanine, a component found in artificial sweeteners. Too much L-phenylalanine can cause the overgrowth of cells, leading to cancer.

Step 5

Eat the right foods to help enforce good brain function. Apples contain quercetin and bananas contain tyrosine, which help our brains to function properly and thus have an effect on norepinephrine levels. Good protein sources are important as well for proper brain function and hormone levels, so be sure you're eating enough eggs, chicken, salmon and tuna to increase protein and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet.

Things You'll Need

Melatonin

St. John's Wort

Tips

Talk about your feelings with a trusted loved one or counselor.
Keep in mind that herbal nutritional supplements that balance norepinephrine naturally work differently for different people. If you are suffering from situational depression caused by the loss of a job, the death of a loved one or any other particular stressors, these supplements can help but will not solve your underlying problems.

Warnings

Consult a psychiatrist or medical doctor if your moods are persistently low. Taking anti-depressants for a period of time may allow you to change your habits so your neurotransmitter levels can effectively be balanced naturally.
Never take dietary supplements before thoroughly researching their benefits and side effects, and ask your medical doctor before taking any supplements or herbs.